England v Spain Official Matchnight Thread 14.07.24

Sorry, boring hat on, but why the hell is it a 8pm kick off (9 in Germany) - its a Sunday, why not 6. As it's primarily a European audience I can't see it being TV driven.

Can understand earlier rounds as there was more than one game a day, and then the semis were midweek.

Schools are already saying you can send kids in later on Monday for example.

Just seems unnecessarily late.
 
Halifax71 said:
Sorry, boring hat on, but why the hell is it a 8pm kick off (9 in Germany) - its a Sunday, why not 6. As it's primarily a European audience I can't see it being TV driven.

Can understand earlier rounds as there was more than one game a day, and then the semis were midweek.

Schools are already saying you can send kids in later on Monday for example.

Just seems unnecessarily late.
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Spot on.
In Turkey at the moment 10pm KO here.
 
Spain have played the best football of the tournament, BUT- they beat France with a worldy and a deflected shot and if Dembele had been more accurate with several crosses into the box, the result could have been very different. Spain are beatable.
 
I know Southgate critics have gone quiet lately but he sounds weak and unconvincing in his interviews worrying about that we have a day less than Spain for recovery and now talking about coping with such a big game ,so Southgate so typical so fearful just like he gets in matches like this and the very last thing his team needs to hear right now.Totally the wrong approach and typically reducing our self belief and thus his team`s chances.
 
I've just read that Bellingham needs an operation on his shoulder and has done since before the Euros. He's been playing the whole tournament wearing a special harness to keep it in place. Just makes that overhead kick even more impressive, having that kind of injury and risking it getting worse to score just shows how much he wanted that.
 
Insane stat....

"Spain or Spanish clubs have been in 26 finals in the World Cup, Euros, Champions League or Europa League in the last 23 years, and have won every single time. The only times a Spanish club side have lost a final has been when they played against another Spanish side."
 
In Formentera, Spain for the game. They’ve got a big screen and auditorium set up. Looking forward to it. Tbh I hope Spain score first then we will be forced to go on the attack and take the shackles off. Would make for a much better game, as seen in the first half against the Dutch until Southgate got them in at half time and got the players to rein it in.
 
voyeur said:
Insane stat....

"Spain or Spanish clubs have been in 26 finals in the World Cup, Euros, Champions League or Europa League in the last 23 years, and have won every single time. The only times a Spanish club side have lost a final has been when they played against another Spanish side."
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Yes and we are fed the bullshit about the Premier league being the BEST
 
After reading comments from fans across Europe I can see that England must be the most unpopular finalist ever. Even worse than the Eurovision song contest.

It seems that every other country wants Spain to win. Reasons given vary from Spain playing the best football to it being bad for football if England win to the English being too cocky. I didn't realise just how much Europe wants us to lose.
 
tommytwojags said:
After reading comments from fans across Europe I can see that England must be the most unpopular finalist ever. Even worse than the Eurovision song contest.

It seems that every other country wants Spain to win. Reasons given vary from Spain playing the best football to it being bad for football if England win to the English being too cocky. I didn't realise just how much Europe wants us to lose.
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They certainly do play much better football than us and it's not hard to understand why people want more attractive football to win, being objective. I do, of course, very much want England to win. But it would be good to see head coaches move to a more attacking and enjoyable brand of football, Critchley included.
 
voyeur said:
Insane stat....

"Spain or Spanish clubs have been in 26 finals in the World Cup, Euros, Champions League or Europa League in the last 23 years, and have won every single time. The only times a Spanish club side have lost a final has been when they played against another Spanish side."
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Records are there to be broken 🤞
 
I’ve no doubt Southgate’s instructions will be to contain them at the start and try not to concede. If he does, that will be dangerous imo, we need to impose ourselves on them, don’t let them settle on the ball and have time to pick a pass.
 
Superbretty said:
In Formentera, Spain for the game. They’ve got a big screen and auditorium set up. Looking forward to it. Tbh I hope Spain score first then we will be forced to go on the attack and take the shackles off. Would make for a much better game, as seen in the first half against the Dutch until Southgate got them in at half time and got the players to rein it in.
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Disagree with that. When Netherlands scored first I thought it was the kick up the arse we needed. Just worry if Spain score first we'll be chasing shadows & the longer it goes on we'll tire & they'll pick us off. Would like us to start on the front foot, we keep possession & put a few doubts in their heads.
 
For some reason the old saying about Lucky Generals keeps bouncing around my head. I think Southgate has had quite a bit of luck (but don’t doubt his hard work and dedication).

I was born in April 1966 so you know what most of my life was watching England….not qualifying for major tournaments, ** em up when we did etc etc until Southgate came in so I expect nothing ever …….but, somehow I feel very confident that somehow, just somehow we will win the Trophy tomorrow.

If we do I’ll be overjoyed but more overjoyed for those that have supported the team through not much thick and a bit of thin whilst some like me lost interest at times

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
 
Spain aren't all that, stop Rodri and you're halfway there, it's not as if he's a mystery to English players.

Saying that I just can't imagine us lifting a trophy, I've been dreaming of it since I was a little boy and something always goes wrong.

Then again it was the same for us making Div 1/Premier League and that happened...
 
Lytham_fy8 said:
Spain aren't all that, stop Rodri and you're halfway there, it's not as if he's a mystery to English players.

Saying that I just can't imagine us lifting a trophy, I've been dreaming of it since I was a little boy and something always goes wrong.

Then again it was the same for us making Div 1/Premier League and that happened...
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yep, player of the tournament for me Rodri, He makes them tick. Let's hope he's more concerned about stopping us.
 
Unpopular opinion maybe but I feel Southgate has been poorly treated. Granted, Netherlands aside we haven’t been great but we’ve got to the final….again. Sure we’ve had some lucky moments (Slovakia 95th minute, penalties against the Swiss and a deserved 90th minute winner against the Dutch) but most teams have a bit of luck winning tournaments.

I also don’t get the “it was never a penalty” yet Maradona Handball, Lampards goal that wasn’t etc were massive decisions against us. Some people have short memories.

Italy have a knack of winning tournaments by being Defensively sound (Greece and Portugal also come to mind) throughout without ever being flamboyant like Spain (Though of course Euro 2020 aside they’ve not really had a great time recently even qualifying for tournaments).

We win tomorrow no one will care about the run to the final. Most tournaments it’s only ever the final that gets spoken about and how the team performed to win it and not how they performed getting there (there are exceptions of course). We pay well Tomorrow and win then that’s the game that lives long in the memory and not the 0-0 against Slovenia. That just becomes a statistic

People talk about the run ins that we have but isn’t that the whole point of winning the group. To give you a favourable run in to the final compared to finishing 2nd or even 3rd. The other “big teams” on the other side of the draw playing each other simply because they finished 2nd and failed to win their group. We earned that right.

and lastly to Southgate. He’s done a great job. England have the records they have because of him and not in spite of him. Sure we lost to France in the Quarters at the World Cup but Kane missed a penalty. Fine margins. Lost to Italy on penalties - 50:50. Again fine margins. No it hasn’t been pretty at times and neither perfect but Southgate gets tournament football. It’s attritional. Defences can and will win you tournaments. Look how we fair playing open, expansive football. Yeah it looks pretty but it hasn’t won us tournaments. Regularly getting KO’d in Quarter Finals. We play open expansive football tomorrow we get picked off and beat. Being defensively sound, frustrate them, win the midfield and we have a chance. We are good enough to beat them if everyone is on it.

I hope we do win tomorrow. A first in my lifetime (I’m 37. Euro 96 was the first I can remember and remember it I do). I want to experience that. I also want us to win for Southgate. He deserves a “I told you so”. You can tell how much it all means to him and despite the iron armour he shows deep down I bet it really hurts when he gets treated like has been the case in the earlier games even though I agree we haven’t been great.

Enjoy the ride tomorrow. A final on foreign soil for the first time ever. COME ON ENGLAND!!!!!!
 
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Whilst I'm the eternal pessimist with failure drilled into me with this being my 20th+ tournament, I think Foden is going to play a major role tonight. As a minimum he'll get his goal.

Still calm as expecting the usual disappointment 🙄
 
My plans for tonight are now set. Me and the Mrs meet my son at 4pm in the Beehive Shipley for a couple of pints, walk to the Rajput for 5.30 at the latest, Curry, Chapattis, and a jug of Lassi. Walk to our house for 7.30 at the latest, cup of coffee and settle in for the big event, a couple of beers whilst watching England put Spain to the sword and then Celebrate.

I must add, my plans in the past have sometimes gone wrong, keeping everything crossed for tonight. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🍻🍛🤞🤪
 
Curryman said:
Walk to our house for 7.30 at the latest, cup of coffee and settle in for the big event, a couple of beers whilst watching England put Spain to the sword and then Celebrate.
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For a minute I thought the big event was little Wilf having his annual treat!
 
Lytham_fy8 said:
Spain aren't all that, stop Rodri and you're halfway there, it's not as if he's a mystery to English players.

Saying that I just can't imagine us lifting a trophy, I've been dreaming of it since I was a little boy and something always goes wrong.

Then again it was the same for us making Div 1/Premier League and that happened...
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Maybe this is where Harry Kane dropping deep becomes part of the master plan!
 
It's estimated they'll be 50,000 England fans in the stadium to Spains 12,000. England's support is ridiculous.
 
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jeez, i've just read this stat and i'm already nervous.

Since May 2001, Spanish teams have played non-Spanish teams in 22 major finals (Champions League, Europa League, World Cup, Euros). The Spanish side has won all 22 finals
 
20togo said:
jeez, i've just read this stat and i'm already nervous.

Since May 2001, Spanish teams have played non-Spanish teams in 22 major finals (Champions League, Europa League, World Cup, Euros). The Spanish side has won all 22 finals
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About time that sequence was broken then😁
 
20togo said:
jeez, i've just read this stat and i'm already nervous.

Since May 2001, Spanish teams have played non-Spanish teams in 22 major finals (Champions League, Europa League, World Cup, Euros). The Spanish side has won all 22 finals
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Law of averages, they have to lose sometime
 
tommytwojags said:
After reading comments from fans across Europe I can see that England must be the most unpopular finalist ever. Even worse than the Eurovision song contest.

It seems that every other country wants Spain to win. Reasons given vary from Spain playing the best football to it being bad for football if England win to the English being too cocky. I didn't realise just how much Europe wants us to lose.
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Half the Basque country and half the Catalans want Spain to lose
 
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